Motor operated train indicator



April 27, 1937. J; so Re. 20,340

MOTOR OPERATED TRAIN INDICATOR Original Filed Feb. 26, 19:52 a Sheets-Sheet 1 PAOLI EX PRESS s-roPs AT OVERBROOK VILLANOVA NARBERTH ST. DAVIDS ARDMORE STPAFFOR BRYNMAWE DEVON I BE N 1 DEPARTS UDEICJ D INVEN TOR.

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A TTORNE Y3 27,1937. J HUTCHlNSQN Re. 20,340

I MOTOR OPERATED TRAIN INDICATOR Original Filed Feb. 26, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I I I I I I N I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l l l I I I I l I l I I I I II A H I I F l l l I I I I I I I I I I I I I i I I I e I I I I I I E; I I FI I I I I I I 1 II III" I I ,I I I I I t (a H INVENTOR.

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Q I a 7 I am I WfiOI/AWML' NEY M ,I & ATTOR 5 April/27, 1937. J. HUTCHINSON Y Re. 20,340

MOTOR OPERATED TRAIN INDICA TOR Original Filed Feb. 26, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 [N VENTOR Job Huh/21726022. S a. I

A TTORNE V6 27, 1937. Q HUTCHINSON Re. 20,340

MOTOR OPERATED TRAIN INDICATOR Original Filed Feb. 26, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Job filth'hind'on.

B Y 6/3 fi /u, M F W A TTORNEYS i A 27, 1937. J. HUTCHINSON MOTOR OPERATED TRAIN INDICATOR a Sheets-Sheet s Original Filed Feb. 26, 1932 )NVENTOR. I Job ifiackz'naan.

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Apn] 27, 1937. J. HUTCHINSON Re. 20,340

MOTOR OPERATED TRAIN INDICATOR Original Filed Feb. 26, 19:52 a Sh eets-Sheet 1 i will. 108 6' 20 I NVEN TOR.

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ATTORNEYS A 27, 1937. .1. HUTCHINSON MOTOR OPERA T ED TRAIN INDICATOR original Filed Feb. 26, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 v s n wa m M m4; m w a w 6 Q7. 6 8 7 a .w u

Reissued Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES f Re. 20,340

PATENT OFFICE MOTOR OPERATED TRAIN INDICATOR Job Hutchinson, Great Neck, N. Y.

24 Claims.

This invention relates to display signs or the changeable exhibitor type and more particularly to those having special utility as train indicators employed to inform the public as to the location, destination and time of departure of trains leavin: a station.

Such changeable exhibitors or train indicators have heretofore commonly been operated by hand, as by means of turning a crank or the like. This, of course, necessitates an attendant actually going to each point where an indicator is located in order to operate it.

The primary object of the present invention is to devise an improved power operated remote controlled system by means of which a changeable exhibitor may be shifted to any desired position from a distant point. This obviates the necessity of an attendant travelling from one indicator to another in order to set the same, as the various controls can, ii desired, be grouped on a single panel or switchboard, at a central omce. Moreover, it permits of the indicators being placed in inaccessible positions, such as above gateways or arches, where it would be diflicult to manually operate them. The invention is, however, not limited to controlling an indicator from a distant point, as the remote control mechanism may, in many cases, be mounted in or on the post or column which supports the indicator. In this case, my improved system relieves the attendant or the often severe physical str'ain of manual operation, and also makes for speed and accin-acy.

As will hereinafter more fully appear, the present invention employs some of the principles already set forth in my prior co-pending application, Serial No. 590,484, filed February 2, 1932, the actual construction being somewhat modified to better adapt the mechanism to the purposes for whichit is intended. In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a typical indicator installation made in accordance with the invention and showing the remote control panel as mounted upon the column or pedestal which supports the indicator;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale, of the reels and web, motor and automatic control mechanism, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, looking from the motor side of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of this mechanism from the side opposite to that on which Fig. 3 is taken;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section through the automatic reversing mechanism hereinafter described;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are transverse sections substantially on the lines ll, 8-8 and 9-9, respec- 10 tively, of Fig. 6;

Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are a longitudinal section, front elevation, plan and transverse section, respectively, of one form of remote control mechanism or selector device which I may employ; and 15 Fig. 14 is a diagram of the circuits employed, also conventionally illustrating the essential parts of the control mechanism.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first more particularly to Fig. 1, my improved apparatus comprises apost or pedestal A on which is supported a time indicator B and a train indicator proper C. This comprises an elongated casing having a central display opening I, on each side of which is disposed a housing to contain the mechanism, the front of these housings preferably comprising panels 2. Mounted to move behind the display opening I is a web or curtain 3, on which appears a plurality of legends showing information concerning various trains.

The time indicator B, shown in Fig. 1, forms no part of the present invention, and may be of any suitable or desired construction, such, for example, as the identical electrically operated remote controlled system shown and described in my above identified prior copending application and hence no detailed description is necessary here.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, it will be seen that the web or curtain 3 passes around upper and lower guide rolls 4 and 5 and has its respective ends secured to and wound upon reels 8 and 9, the guide rolls 4 and 5 and the reels 8 and 9 being journalled in a suitable frame 6 mounted upon a base I.

In order to prevent overrunning of these reels due to the inertia of the parts, I provide a friction brake comprising a pair of brake shoes l0 carried by a brake beam l I supported in a bracket l2 and capable of being adjusted toward and I from the reels by means of a set screw I3. The brake shoes In bear upon wide faced heads 8 and 9, provided at one end of the reels 8 and 9, as shown.

Secured to the reel 8 is a sprocket-wheel I4 and secured to the reel 9 is a sprocket wheel l5, and sprocket chains I8 and I1 connect these two sprockets respectively with another pair of sprocket wheels I8 and I9, (see Fig. 6), by means of which the reels are driven. My improved driving and reversing mechanism will now be described, reference being had to Figs. 6 to 9. By reference to these figures, it will be seen that I provide a combined supporting frame and oil pan 28, in bearings 2| of which is mounted a rotary member comprising a hollow shaft or sleeve 22, carrying at its center a worm wheel 23 and at its ends a pair of discs 21 and 28. The worm wheel 23 meshes with a worm 24, secured to a shaft 25, extending horizontally from an electric motor 28, of any suitable type. Set in the discs 21 and 28 and projecting in opposite directions therefrom are a pair of pins 29 and 38, which work freely in angularly disposed slots 3| and 32, formed in dogs 33 and 34, which are pivotally mounted at one end by pins 35 and 38, on discs 31 and 38, respectively. Spring pressed friction brakes 39 and 48 bear lightly against the peripheries of the discs 31 and 38, to prevent their free rotation.

The disc 31 is mounted to rotate on a bearing sleeve 4|, carried by the frame 28, and the disc 38 is mounted to rotate on a similar sleeve 42, held by bearing cap 43.

Another sleeve 48 is journalled inside of the sleeve 42 and carries at one end between the discs 28 and 38 a flange 44 having a short radial pin or lug 45, projecting from the periphery thereof, (see Fig. 9). At its opposite end, the sleeve 48 is keyed to the sprocket wheel I8, above mentioned. Another disc or flange 41 similar to the flange 44, and having a radially projecting pin 48 is disposed adjacent but slightly spaced from the disc 31, and is keyed to a shaft 49 extending centrally through all of the mechanism just described and journalled in the sleeves 4| and 48. To this shaft 49 is also keyed the sprocket wheel l9.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the disc or flange 44 is confined between the discs 28 and 38 and lies in the plane of the dog 34, while the disc or flange 41 is confined between the discs 21 and 31, and lies in the plane of the dog 33. It will also be observed that when the rotary member comprising the discs 21 and 28 turns in one direction, as for example, clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 9, the pin 38 will ride to the outer end of the slot 32, thus swinging the dog 34 inwardly about its pivot 38 so that its nose engages the pin 45, and further rotation in this direction thus causes the flange 44, and with it the sprocket wheel l8, to be driven through such dog and pin. This rotates the reel 8 in such a direction as to wind the web thereon. At the same time, the reel 9 is rotated in the opposite direction by reason of the web being drawn therefrom, and this rotation is imparted through the sprocket wheels I5 and l 9 to the shaft 49 and disc or flange 41. It will be noted that such rotation of the shaft 49 is in the reverse or counter clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 'I, and that with the parts in the position shown, the pin 48 is free to rotate under the dog 33, and does not engage the same.

If the motor runs in the opposite direction, so as to reverse the direction of rotation of the discs 21 and 28, the pin 29 on the disc 21 will move in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. '1, and will travel to the outer and upper end of the slot 3|, swinging the dog 33 inwardly, while at the same time, the pin 38 on the disc 38,

being shifted in the same direction, will lift the dog 34 outwardly and cause its nose to clear the pin 45. Further rotation of the discs 21 and 28 in a counter-clockwise direction will result in the disc or flange 41 and shaft 49 being driven through the dog 33 and pin 48, in a counterclockwise direction, and the sprocket Wheel I9 will thus be rotated to drive the reel 9 in such a direction as to wind the web thereon, while at the same time the reel 8 is permitted to turn, as

the web is drawn therefrom.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided automatic reversing mechanism comprising a pair of oppositely disposed one way clutches, so arranged that when the motor runs in one direction, one of the reels will be driven, while the other is permitted to freely unwind, and when the motor runs in the opposite direction, the other reel will be driven, and the first permitted to freely unwind, the drive being automatically shifted from one reel to the other, in accordance with the direction o1 rotation of the motor.

In addition to the automatic clutch mechanism above described, I provide means for reversing the motor itself, when the web is nearly all unwound from one of the reels, as in my said prior copending application, Serial No. 590,484. In the present case, I employ an automatic reversing switch driven by means of a worm 58 on the end of the shaft 49, and meshing with a worm wheel 51. Projecting from the side of this worm wheel is a pin 52, adapted to engage and move a lever 53, pivoted at 54, and also pivotally connected with a switch blade 51, a compression spring 58 being interposed between such switch blade and a projecting finger 55 on the lever 53, in order' through sprocket I8, the reel from which the web is unwinding will act through its sprocket chain I1 and wheel l9 to rotate the shaft 49 reversely, and thus operate the reversing switch again when the limit of travel is reached in that direction.

The automatic control mechanism for properly positioning the web so as to bring any desired legend thereon into registry with the display openingis arranged at the opposite side of the web from the motor 28, and is of the stepby-step selector type. It comprises a. pinion 8|, secured to the guide roll 5, and meshing with a gear 82, which carries a disc 83 having a pair of notches 84, cut in its periphery at diametrically opposite points thereof. The gear wheel 82 is mounted for rotation on the frame 8 and is rigidly connected with a small pinion 85, meshing with a, large gear wheel 88, mounted for rotation on a pin 81, carried by the frame 8. Rigidly secured to the gear wheel 88 is an insulating disc 88 having around its periphery a metallic band 89 serving as a slip ring, from which band radially projects an inwardly extending lug or finger 18. A cooperating finger or contact 1| carried by a disc 12 movable independently of the wheel 88 about the pin 81 is arranged to wipe over the face of the disc 88 and to engage the lug or finger I9 so as to establish an electrical cmnecflon therewith.

Rigidly secured to the disc 12 but insulated therefrom by an insulating washer I3 is a ratchet wheel I4. Cooperating with this ratchet wheel is a resilient pawl I5 carried by a member I8, pivotally mounted at TI on a bracket I8 secured toa portion 6 of the frame and constituting the armature of an electromagnet". This armature is urged away from the magnet by a suitable spring, as indicated at I9. It will thus be understood that whenever the magnet 89 is energized, the pawl I5 moves the ratchet wheel 14 and disc I2 around in a clockwise direction, a distance oi one tooth. A holding pawl 0I also engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel to prevent reverse rotation thereof.

Bearing upon the disc 12 is a spring finger or brush 8!, and bearing upon the band 69 is a spring finger or brush 83, these being connected by wires 98 and 94 to other elements of the control system, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In addition to the contacts I0 and II, I provide another pair of contacts 85 and 86, these latter being preferably in the form of spring strips insulated from each other and suitablymounted upon the frame by means of an adjustable bracket 84. One of these contact strips, such. as 86, is extended and preferably bent at its end, as indicated at 91, to form a finger which rides upon the periphery of the disc 63, and which is adapted to drop into the notches 84, as this disc rotates. It will be further seen that when the finger 81 drops into a notch 64, the contacts 85 and 86 are closed, establishing an electric connection between them.

The above described circuit closer controlled by the finger which rides upon the periphery of the notched disc 93 is similar to that employed in my said prior copending application, and has a similar function. In that case, however, such circuit closer cooperates with an arm sweeping over a stationary commutator, while in the present case, it cooperates with the movable contacts of my improved step-by-step selector.

Referring now to Fig. 14, 88 and 88 designate the terminals of a suitable source of current. One of these terminals, as 88, is connected through a switch 89 and wire 90, with a. control magnet or relay 9|, the other side of this magnet being connected by a wire 92 with the contact 85, and the contact 86 being connected by a wire 93, with the contact finger 83. The contact finger 82 is in turn connected by a wire 94 with the other side of the line or source of current.

The magnet 9|, when energized, serves to open a switch or pair of contacts 95, normally held closed by means of a spring 98. One side of the line 88 is connected through the switch 89, with one of the contacts 95, while the other contact is connected by a wire 91, to the motor 26. Two other leads 98 and 99 extend from the motor to the respective terminals 59 and 60 of the reversing switch 53, the common terminal 58 thereof being connected by a wire I00, with the other side 88' of the line.

One terminal of the magnet is connected by wire IOI with one side of the line 88 and the other terminal is connected by a wire I02, to one member of a circuit closer I03, the other member of which is connected by wire I04 to. the other side of the line 88.

By reference to Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, the nature and method or operation of the circuit closer I08 will be understood. This circuit closer preferably consists of a pair of conducting strips carried by an insulating bracket, the lower one I being pivotally mounted and pulled downwardly by a spring I06. The end of this arm I09 carries a lug I0I, which rides upon a. cam or toothed wheel I08, secured to a shaft I09, journalled in bearings in a housing or cabinet H0. The other end of the shaft I09 projects through the wall of this cabinet and has a knob or hand wheel III secured thereto. Adjacent this knob in the front wall of the cabinet is a sight opening Ill, and behind this sight opening is mounted to rotate on a shaft II4 an indicator wheel 8, having a series of numbers on its periphery, as shown in Fig. 13. This indicator wheel, circuit closer, and associated parts, may be designated a selector device.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that when the knob III is turned, the toothed wheel I08 serves to operate the circuit closer I03 and to close the circuit momentarily every time a tooth passes under the lug I01. The closer of the circuit at I03 energizes the magnet 80 over the circuit IOI, I02 and I04, as above described, and each impulse of current flowing through this magnet causes it to attract its armature I6 and through the pawl I5 to step the ratchet wheel I4 around a unit distance. Assuming the indicator wheel II3 to be set at zero, and assuming that it is desired to transmit to the magnet 80 a given number of impulses, the knob III is turned until the digit on the wheel II3 corresponding to the number of impulses desired, appears at the window H2. When this occurs, the operator knows that the corresponding number of impulses has been sent, and that the ratchet wheel I4 has been stepped around a corresponding distance.

A general description of the operation of my improved apparatus will now be appended. It will be understood that the number and position of the characters or digits on the indicator wheel II3 of the selector device correspond with the position of the various legends or train information appearing on the web 3. Thus, if the web contains thirty difierent legends or spaces, there would be thirty numbers on the indicator wheel H3. While any desired ratio of gearing and relative number of teeth may be employed, I have illustrated the toothed wheel I08 as having fifteen teeth, and as beinggeared one to four to the indicator wheel H3 by means of the beveled pinion H5. Thus four revolutions of the knob III are necessary to turn the indicator wheel once, and in turning such wheel once, the circuit closer I03 has been operated four times fifteen or sixty times. In order to complete the arrangement described, the ratchet wheel I4 is provided with sixty teeth, so that one revolution of the indicator wheel H3 results in energizing the magnet 80 sixty times and turning the ratchet wheel I4 through one complete revolution.

Assuming the parts to be at zero position, as would be usual at the beginning of a day, and assuming that it be desired to display the legend relating to the "Paoli Express, which legend, is we will say, the seventh on the web, the operator first turns the knob III until the numeral 7 appears in the window II2. In doing this, he has operated the circuit closer I03 fourteen times, and has stepped the ratchet wheel I4 forward a distance equal to fourteen teeth, or to what constitutes the seventh position, there being, in the embodiment shown, two teeth for each position. Theratchet wheel I4 carries ill with it the disc 12 and thus the contact finger II is set forward in a clockwise direction, or, in other words, angularly displaced to an extent equal to the fourteen teeth of the ratchet wheel. The operator then closes the switch 89, which, as indicated in' Fig. 14, and also in Fig. 1, may conveniently be located at the remote control station adjacent the circuit closer I63. This is indicated by the dotted enclosure in Fig. 14.

' The closure of the switch 89 supplies current to the motor 26 from one side of the line 88 through the switch or pair of contacts 95 and wire 91, the return being through either one or the other of the leads 98, 99, and wire I86, to the other side of the line. The motor then begins to run, and to wind the web from one reel onto the other. As it runs, the travel of the web over the guide roller 5 turns the pinion 6| and this drives the gear 62 and through pinion 65 the gear 66, thus carrying the contact segment 16 around, let us .say, in a clockwise direction. After the web has travelled a distance corresponding to the predetermined setting or angular displacement of the contact finger 1|, the disc 68 has been turned through a corresponding distance and the contact 16 will have caught up to and registered with the contact finger ll, thus closing at this point the circuit supplying current to magnet 9|.

But this circuit is open at another point, namely, the contacts 85, 86, these contacts being in series with the contacts III, II. Therefore, the magnet 9| is not necessarily energized at the exact moment of contact between the segment 10 and finger H, but its energization depends upon the simultaneous closing of the contacts 85 and 86 also. It will be observed, by reference to Fig. 5, that these contacts are periodically closed at every half revolution of the disc 63, and by reason of the extremely high gear ratio between this disc and the disc 12, it comes about that the contacts 85 and 86 will necessarily be closed at least once between the initial engagement and final disengagement of the segment 18 and finger II, this, of course, being due also to the substantial width of the latter.

Thus, as the web travels around the roller 5, the disc 63 measures off successive equal unit lengths of web and closes the contacts 85, 86 momentarily as each such unit length passes. Thus, in the example given, as six spaces or unit lengths of web have to pass over the roller 5 before the seventh desired space is reached, then the circuit is closed at 85, 86 six times (or it might be twelve times, dependent upon the gearing ratio employed). No effect, however, is produced by these periodic closings of the contacts 85, 86 so long as the finger 1| and segment 16 are not in engagement. When, however, to use the above illustration, the seventh space or unit length of web passes around the roller 5, the segment l0 and finger II are brought into engagement and during such engagement, the next notch 64 which passes the finger 81 will cause the contacts 85 and 86 to close, as usual, but this time the circuit of magnet 9| will be completed, the magnet will be energized, and the switch contacts 95 opened and the motor 26 stopped. Thus, the web is arrested with the desired legend or train information registering accurately with the display opening.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the segment 16 and finger II, which can be preset to any desired position, constitute a main or approximate governing device which serves to close the motor control circuit when the web reaches the desired position corresponding to that to which the finger II has been set, and that cooperating with this main governing device is a secondary or accurate governing device comprising the contacts 85 and 86 and the notched disc 63. It is obviously necessary to have a low gear ratio between the web and segment 16, in order that the control contact 1| may be set to any desired angular position, and owing to this low gear ratio, it is obvious that if the contacts 18 and II were alone relied upon tostop the motor, it would be impossible to cause the legend on the web to register accurately with the display opening. The function of the secondary or auxiliary governing device, including the contacts 85, 86 is to secure the necessary accuracy in positioning the web. Since the periphery of the disc 63 travels at a speed which much more nearly approximates that of the web itself, it is clear that after the finger'8'l enters a notch 64 and the motor stops, there can be exceedingly little drii'ting of the mechanism. In practice, I have found that it is possible to stop the web so accurately that there is a variance of not more than threeeighths of an inch from an exact line, one way or the other. To sum up, therefore, it will be seen that I provide a low geared governing device and a high geared governing device both of which cooperate in controlling the motor, and both of which must act jointly in order to stop it. In this connection, it will be noted that in the present embodiment the governing devices are operated by the motor driven mechanism through the medium of the guide roller itself. Consequently, their movement is at all times strictly proportional to the linear displacement of the web.

With the parts arranged as above described, it is obvious that after the contacts 16 and II have come into engagement and after the contacts 85 and 86 in series therewith have been simultaneously closed and the magnet 9| energized to open the motor circuit, this magnet will remain controls the flow of current to the motor, is inv series with the switch 95, and that in order to complete the motor circuit, both of these switches must be closed. It will also be observed that this switch 89 controls the supply of current over wire 96 to the magnet 9|, as well as to the motor, so

that when the switch 89 is opened the magnet 9| is deprived of current and permits the switch 95 to close. Thus, it will be seen that there are two switches in series in the motor circuit, one normally closed and the other normally open; that the closing of the normally open switch eventually operates through the governing devices to open the normally closed switch; and that the opening again of the first switch results in closing the other switch again.

Therefore, after the time mechanism has opened the switch 89, the parts are restored to normal condition. When it is desired to set the indicator to another position, it is only necessary to turn the knob III in the same direction and thus send out the requisite additional number of impulses to the magnet 80 to step around the control contact finger II to the new position. Then, upon closing the switch 89 again, the motor starts up and the mechanism operates as before.

Finally, it will be noted that, because or the ratchet wheel Illl, the knob Hi can be turned in only one direction, and the ratchet wheel 14 always, of course, turns in the same direction. If, however, the indicator is at, say, legend number 25, and it is desired to set it to number 2, it is only necessary to turn the knob so as to carry the indicator wheel 3 on up to 30 and thence through zero to the numeral 2. After this has been done, and the motor is started up, it will serve first to drive the reel which is almost full of web, until position 30 is reached, and thereupon the direction of rotation of the motor will be automatically reversed by means 01' the reversing switch indicated at 53 in Fig. 14, and the reversal of the motor serves through the improved clutch mechanism-shown in Figs. 6 to 9 to shift the drive from the full reel to the empty one, and the motor will continue running, winding the web backward from position number 30, until position number 2 is reached, whereupon it will be automatically stopped, as before. Thus, regardless of whether the next legend to be displayed is ahead of or behind the one already appearing at the display opening, it is only necessary to turn the knob II I and the indicator wheel in the same direction until the desired numberis reached, whereupon the motor, through the reversing switch and automatic clutch mechanism, will automatically take care of the situation and drive the web either directly or first in one direction and then in the other until the desired legend comes to display position.

No claim is made herein to the broad idea of automatically reversing the motor, as above described, this subject matter being claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 649,623, a division of my prior application, above referred to.

While I avail myself of the same idea of automatically reversing the motor just before the web isall unwound from one reel, as in my said prior copending application, it will be noted that in said prior arrangement, both reels are simultaneously driven and a reversible manually operated selector is employed, while in the present case, the reels are alternately driven, and the selector device or control can be moved in one direction only.

While I have shown and described the web 3 as hearing a series of signs or legends, each complete in itself, it will, of course, be appreciated that the same principle of operation may be employed regardless of the kind of information dis- Therei'ore, where the word legend occurs in the claims, it is not to be understood as y meaning a complete sign, as shown, but may include also a single letter, numeral or other character.

Referring again to the time indicator B, it will be understood that the remote control devices therefor may be located at any desired point, but preferably adjacent the devices 89 and Hi, so that all apparatus will be accessible to the same operator. In case the train indicator control apparatus is mounted on the post or column A, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the time indicator control would be similarly located, and I have conventionally shown in Fig. l agroup of time indicator control panelslli similar to those disclosed in my prior copending application above referred to.

What I claim is:

1. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a web and a pair of reels to which the ends of said web are attached, of a. reversible motor, driving mechanism interposed between said. motor and reels including automatic means whereby one or the other of said reels is selectively and positively driven by said motor, dependent upon the direction of rotation thereof, and means for reversing said motor operated by said mechanism.

2. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a web and a pair of reels to which the ends of said web are attached, or a rotary member and means for driving it, a pair of gear members connected one with each reel, and a pair of oneway reversely disposed clutches, one element of each of which is controlled by said rotary memher, and the other element of each of which is rigidly secured to one of said gear members.

3. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a flexible travelling display element having thereon a plurality of legends, of a pair oi rolls to which the ends of said element are attached, motor driven mechanism for rotating said rolls, a guide roller around which said display element passes, a governing device comprising two cooperating members, one of which is connected with said guide roller, means for setting the other member of said governing device to a. predetermined position corresponding with that of adesired legend on said display element, means for putting said mechanism in operation, and means for automatically arresting said display element when it reaches a position corresponding with that to which said second member of the governing device has been set.

4 In achangeable exhibitor, the combination with a travelling display element having thereon a plurality of legends, an electric motor for driving said display element, a governing device com-' prising two co-operating members one of. which is connected with said d p ay element, elemcally operated means for shifting the other member of said governing device to set it to a predetermined position corresponding with that of a desired legend on said display element; independent manually operated means for putting said, mechanismin operation, and for automatically opening the circuit 01 said motor when said display element reaches a position cor responding with that to which. said secondmember of said g device has been set.

5. In a cable exhibitor, the combination with a. travelling display element having thereon aplurality o! legends, of motor driven me M for moving said display element, a main m ing device comprising two co-operating an auxiliary governing: device, both said aui'riliary' governing device and one member of said main device beingconnectedwithand driven by said. display element, means tor shiftingthe other member of said main governing device to set it to a predetermined position corresponding with that of a desired legend on said display element, means for putting said mechanism in operation, and means controlled by auxiliary" governlng device for automatically arresting said display element when it accurately'reaches a position corresponding with that to which said mzmber of said main governing devicehas se 6-. In a; le exhibitor, the combination with. a travelling display element having a plurality of legends, or a motor for moving said display element, a main governing device comprising two members, an auxiliary governing device, both said auxiliary device and ,one member of .said main device being connected directly with said display element and driven by the linear movement thereof, a circuit closer operated independently by each device, a circuit controlling said motor and including both of said circuit closers in series, said circuit closers being normally open, means for shifting the other member of said main governing device to set it to a predetermined position corresponding with that of a desired legend on said display element, means for puttingsaid motor in operation, and automatic means controlled by the simultaneous closing of both of said circuit closers for stopping said motor and arresting said display element when it reaches a position corresponding with that to which said member of said main governing device has-been set.

7. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a travelling display element having thereon a plurality of legends, of a motor for moving said display element, means for putting said motor into operation, and means for automatically arresting it with a selected legend accurately positioned at a given point, said last mentioned means comprising an approximate governing device comprising two co-operating members and means for shifting one member thereof so as to set it to a predetermined position, an exact governing device, both said exact governing device and the other member of said approximate governing device being operatively connected directly with said display element and driven in proportion to the linear movement thereof, and means controlled jointly by the said two governing devices for stopping said motor when said display element reaches a position corresponding with that to which said member of the approximate governing device has been set.

8. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a display element having thereon a plurality of legends, of motor driven mechanism for moving said display element, means for putting said mechanism into operation, and means for automatically arresting it with a selected legend accurately positioned at a given point, said last mentioned means comprising a main normally open circuit closer comprising a pair of independently movable contact members and means for automatically bringing said members into engagement after said display element has moved a predetermined distance, an auxiliary normally open circuit closer and automatic means for periodically-closing it a plurality of times during the movement of said display element through such predetermined linear distance, and means responsive to the simultaneous closing of said circuit closers for stopping said mechanism.

9. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a travelling display element, of motor driven mechanism for moving the same, and means for controlling said mechanism so as to bring any selected part of said display element to a given position, said means comprising an electrically operated governing device and remote control step-by-step means for setting it to a predetermined position, said remote control means comprising a. circuit closer, a circuit connecting said circuit closer with said governing device and including a source of current, manual means for actuating said circuit closer to transmit to said governing device any desired number of electrical impulses, and means associated with said manual tric motor, a governing device mechanically connected with said motor and comprising a nor,- mally open circuit closer, means for setting said device to a predetermined position so that said circuit closer will close after said motor has made a certain number of revolutions, a manually operated switch in the circuit of said motor, a second normally closed switch also in said circuit, and means operated by the closing of said circuit closer for opening said second switch. 5'

11. In apparatus of the class described, an elec tric motor, a source of current, and a control system for said motor comprising a normally closed switch interposed in circuit between said motor and source of current, an electromagnet which, when energized, serves to hold said switch open, a manually operated time-controlled switch also in said motor circuit in series with said first mentioned switch, and automatic means governed by said motor for energizing said magnet under predetermined conditions, the circuit through which said net is energized including said manually operated time-controlled switch, where-. by, when said time-controlled switch opens, said magnet is deprived of current.

12. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a movable display element bearing a plural- 5 ity of legends, and a reversible motor for driving said element, of an electrical selector device comprising a circuit controller and an indicator element having characters corresponding with the legends on said display element, manually actuposition, in accordance with the particular legend selected.

13. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a movable display element bearing a series of legends of a selector device comprising an endless indicator element having a corresponding series of characters, manual means for advancing said indicator element in one direction only to successively select the characters desired, automatic means serving, if the character selected is. at one side of the previous one, to move said dis-" play element in one direction and stop it with the legend corresponding with said character in display position, and automatic means serving, if the character selected is at the'other side of the previous one, to move said display element first in one direction to the end of the series of legends, and then back in the opposite direction until the legend corresponding with the selected character reaches display position.

14. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a display element of definite length, bearing between its ends a series of legends, of a selector device comprising an endless indicator element bearing a corresponding series 01' characters, said display element being movable in both directions, and said indicator element being movable in one direction only, manual means for into display position the legend corresponding v with the character selected, said movement being in one direction only or first in one direction and then in the other, in accordance with whether the character selected is in advance of or behind the previous one.

15. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a travelling display element having thereon a plurality of legends, of motor driven mechanism for moving said display element, a governing device connected with said mechanism, electrically operated means for shifting a member of said governing device, step-by-step, to set it to a predetermined position corresponding with that of a desired legend on said display element, manual means at a remote control station for controlling said electrically operated means, a power switch at said remote control station for causing the energization of said motor, and means for auto-- matically depriving said motor of current when said display element reaches a position corresponding with that to which said member of said governing device has been set.

16. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a travelling display element having thereon a plurality of legends, of motor driven mechanism for moving said display element,.

means for putting said mechanism into operation, and means for automatically arresting it with a selected legend accurately positioned at a given point, said last mentioned means including an approximate governing device comprising two co-operating relatively movable members and means for shifting one member thereof so as to set it to a predetermined position, an exact governing device, both said exact governing device and the other member of said approximate governing device being operatively connected with said mechanism, and means controlled jointly by the said two governing devices for stopping said motor and arresting said display element when the latter reaches a position corresponding with that to which said approximate governing device has been set.

1'7. A changeable exhibitor comprising a pair of reels a web adapted to be wound upon said reels and having each end secured to one of said reels, a motor for driving said reels and mechanism interposed between said motor and said reels for reversing. the direction of drive of said motor when the web becomes unwound from one of said reels, said mechanism comprising a main driving gear, geared to said motor, opposed pawls carried by said driving gear, ratchet wheels each geared to one of said reels mounted co-axially with said driving gear and adapted for engagement with said pawls, and a reversing switch driven directly by one of said ratchet wheels whereby the direction of rotation of the motor is reversed after a predetermined number of revolutions of said last-named ratchet wheel.

18. A changeable exhibitor comprising a pair of reels 9. web adapted to be wound upon said reels and having each end secured to one of said reels, a reversible motor for driving said reels and mechanism interposed between said motor and said reels for automatically reversing said motor when the web becomes unwound from either one of said reels, said mechanism comprising a shaft geared to a reversing gear, a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, a second ratchet wheel rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a main driving gear, driven by said motor, rotatably mounted upon said shaft between said ratchet wheels, and

opposed pawls carried by said driving gear adapted for engagement with said ratchet wheels.

19. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a travelling display element having thereon a plurality of legends, of motor driven mechanism for moving said display element, a main circuit closing device comprising two relatively movable parts, and an auxiliary circuit closing device, driving connections between said mechanism and both said auxiliary circuit closing device, and one part of said main circuit closing device, said connections serving to actuate said auxiliary circuit closing device as each legend reaches exact display position, a circuit controlling said motor and including both of said circuit closing devices in series, the circuit being normally open at said devices, means for selectively setting the other part of said main circuit closing device so that said device will close the circuit when a predetermined selected legend reaches approximate display position, means for putting said motor in operation, and automatic means controlled by the simultaneous closing of both of said circuit closing devices for stopping said motor and arresting said display element when the selected legend accurately reaches display position.

20. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a travelling display element having thereon a plurality of legends, of motor driven mechanism for moving said display element, means for putting said mechanism into operation, and means for automatically arresting it with a selected legend accurately at display position, said last mentioned means comprising a main circuit closer constituting an approximate governing device and an auxiliary circuit closer constituting an exact governing device, a circuit controlling said motor and including both of said circuit closers in series, mea'ns actuated by said mechanism for closing said auxiliary circuit closer periodically as each legend reaches exact display position, and means also actuated by said mechanism for closing said main circuit closer approximately when the selected legend reaches display position.

21. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a travelling display element having thereon a plurality of legends, of motor driven mechanism for moving said display element, a main governing device comprising two members, an auxiliary governing device, both said auxiliary device and one member of said main device being mechanically connected with and operated by said mechanism, a circuit controlling said motor and normally open at two points, means operated independently by said two governing 'devices for closing said circuit at each of said respective points, means for shifting the other member of said main governing device to set it to a predetermined position corresponding with that of a desired legend on said display element, means for putting said motor in operation, and automatic means controlled by the simultaneous closing of said circuit at both points for stopping said motor and arresting said display element when it reaches a position corresponding with that to which said member of said main, governing device has been set.

22. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a travelling display element having thereon a plurality of legends, of motor driven mechanism for moving said display element, means for putting said motor into operation, and means for automatically arresting it with a selected legend accurately positioned at a given point, said last mentioned means including an approximate goveming device comprising two cooperating members and means for shifting one member thereof so as to set it to a predetermined position, an exact governing device, both said exact governing device and the other member of said approxi mate governing device being operatively connected with said mechanism and driven thereby, and means controlled jointly by the said two governing devices for stopping said motor when said display element reaches a position corresponding with that to which said member of the approximate governing device has been set.

23. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a travelling display element having thereon a plurality of legends, of motor driven mechanism for moving said display element, a main governing device comprising two co-operating members, an auxiliary governing device, both said auxiliary governing device and one member of said main governing device being operatively connected with said mechanism and driven thereby, means for shifting the other member of said main governing device to set it to a predetermined position corresponding with that of a desired legend on said display element,

means for putting said mechanism in operation, and means controlled by said auxiliary governing device for automatically arresting said display element when it reaches a position corresponding with that to which said member of said main governing device has been set.

24. In a changeable exhibitor, the combination with a travelling display element having thereon a plurality of legends, of motor driven mechanism for moving said display element, a motor controlling circuit normally open at two points in series, means for selecting any desired legend to be displayed, means operated by said mechanism for automatically closing said circuit at one point when the selected legend reaches approximate display position, and means also operated by said mechanism for closing said circuit at the other point as each legend reaches exact display position, means for putting said motor in operation, and means for automatically stopping said motor when said circuit is closed simultaneously at both points.

JOB HUTCHINSON. 

